A combination of rich soil, mild climate and ready access to market via river and later railroad made Courtland an early center of cotton production. From surrounding plantations with colorful names like Bonnie Doone, Oak Grove, Rocky Hill, . . . — — Map (db m71285) HM
On April 20, 1934, a temporary charter was issued for Gen. Joe Wheeler Post 58, Courtland, Alabama.
On November 12, 1946, a permanent charter was granted and the name changed to Wiley Horton Post 58 in honor of the deceased son of State . . . — — Map (db m84303) HM
(side 1)
Courtland Army Air Field (CAAF): Beginnings
Following the onset of WWII the Army Air Corps initiated an ambitious pilot training program. During its most active period, this program would train over 100,000 pilots per . . . — — Map (db m74409) HM
(side 1)
Courtland Army Air Field (CAAF): Facilities
At its greatest strength, CAAF was home to 4600 officers, enlisted servicemen, and cadets. During the war years it was the largest population center within Lawrence County. Over . . . — — Map (db m74411) HM
Side A
One of Alabama's oldest and most picturesque town cemeteries, this site was set aside as a burying ground by the Courtland Land Company in its original survey made prior to the incorporation of the town in 1819. Many of the area's . . . — — Map (db m84304) HM
One of Alabama's earliest Presbyterian congregations, this church was founded in September 1821 by the Reverend John Allen as "The Church of Nazareth". In 1833 it was renamed Courtland Presbyterian Church. The first meeting house, just west of . . . — — Map (db m155416) HM
Side 1
Structures within the Courtland historic district represent over 150 years of changing tastes in building design. Although only a few of Courtland’s earliest buildings survive, the Federal~style architecture of the oldest houses . . . — — Map (db m28990) HM
Side A
Tennessee Street along the north side of the square was originally part of Gaines’ Trace, a horse path laid out in 1807 under the direction of Capt. Edmund Pendleton Gaines of the U. S. Army. From Melton’s Bluff on the Tennessee . . . — — Map (db m29056) HM
Side A
This circa 1820 house is thought to be one of the oldest houses in Courtland. Occupying a lot platted by the Courtland Land Company in 1818, the house faces North toward what was once the main Tuscumbia Road. Dr. Jack Shackelford . . . — — Map (db m84306) HM
Built about 1830 for merchant Joseph Trotter, this house was purchased in 1838 by John J. McMahon, a Virginia-born cotton factor who divided his time between Courtland and New Orleans. The house remained the home of McMahon's descendants for nearly . . . — — Map (db m84307) HM
Marker Front:
African~Americans played a very significant role in the early history of Courtland. Most came as slaves from the older southern states to help clear the land, to plant crops of cotton and corn, and to serve as household . . . — — Map (db m29009) HM
The Red Rovers Volunteer military company organized at Courtland 1835 to aid Texas in struggle for independence.
Commanded by Dr. Jack Shackelford, local physician, company derived its name from color of home spun uniforms, made by citizens . . . — — Map (db m84308) HM
Side A Federal lands in this area were first sold in 1818 and quickly purchased by settlers and speculators. A group of investors calling themselves the “Courtland Land Company” and consisting of William H. Whitaker, James M. . . . — — Map (db m28989) HM
A saloon and its whiskey
-“Tricky Trickum Stuff"-
purportedly inspired area's
name in 1850s. After 1882
adopted more dignified Hatton. — — Map (db m180451) HM
Born July 31, 1868 ~ Died April 10, 1955
Daughter of General Joseph Wheeler
Gallantly served her country three times on foreign soil.
Volunteer nurse, Santiago, Cuba~1898.
Spanish~American War and Manila, P.I. ~1899
during Philippine . . . — — Map (db m29558) HM
Created by Territorial Legislature
in 1818 from lands ceded by
Cherokee and Chickasaw Indians
Named for U.S, Navy hero of War of 1812
Capt. James Lawrence
Fatally wounded, his famous command was
"Don't Give Up The Ship"
County . . . — — Map (db m69672) HM
A Special Place: for People and Birds
The forest of Bankhead have been here for many generations, witnessing considerable natural, historical and cultural changes. This area was home to native Americans for many years. The pioneers who live . . . — — Map (db m107295) HM
Born 11 June 1769, in Maryland and married 18 Nov 1797, Anne Royall became a wealthy widow upon her Revolutionary War Veteran husband's death in 1813. However, her husband's family filed an ultimately successful suit for his estate. While she waited . . . — — Map (db m84309) HM
Many Kinds of Birds Call North Alabama Home
The northern tier of Alabama has several district landforms including the Tennessee River Valley and the southern Cumberland Plateau. The variety of terrain and the large expanse of forest in the . . . — — Map (db m107297) HM
Wyatt Cheatham (1769-1856) was one of the early settlers of Lawrence County and bought land near Wren in 1818. The Alabama Legislature on 14 Dec 1824 authorized him, "to open out and make a road leading from at or near the Gum Pond in said county . . . — — Map (db m84310) HM
(front)
Dedicated to the men of Lawrence County, Alabama,
from all walks of life, who left kith and kin,
hearth and home, and lost their lives in military service
for the Confederate States of America during
the War for Southern . . . — — Map (db m84311) WM
Discover the Incredible Variety of Habitats and Birds in the Bankhead National Forest
1. Walston Ridge Road
The road along Walston Ridge provides a variety of forest habitats. Prescribed fire maintains the open oak-pine woodlands. . . . — — Map (db m107294) HM
On January 3, 1874, former slaves and
Deacons King Crayton, George Pruitt,
Tandy Crayton, and Ben Warren paid fifty
dollars for land to construct the Colored
Baptist Church, which was one of the earliest
in the Muscle Shoals Colored . . . — — Map (db m201349) HM
The elevation to the northeast was known as Gallagher Hill. It was owned by John Gallagher who was born 1784 in Donegal County, Ireland. Coming to America 12 Aug 1812, he was a Lawrence County official by 1822. Later known as Science Hill, the . . . — — Map (db m69668) HM
General Leroy Pope Walker was born 7 Feb 1817 in Madison County, Al., son of John W. Walker (1784~1823). John was House Speaker of the AL Territory, the first constitutional convention president, the first US AL senator, and namesake of Walker . . . — — Map (db m69669) HM
Born on this site about 1820 to Phillip and Sarah Roddy, Phillip Dale Roddy grew up in poverty. His father a saddle maker and War of 1812 veteran, was one of the earliest murder victims in Moulton. Phillip Dale was raised by his mother and received . . . — — Map (db m69674) HM
The High Town Path was an Indian Trail extending from Charles Town, SC to
Chickasaw Bluffs at Memphis, TN. The Path was named after High Town located at the forks of the Etowah and Oostenalla Rivers near
Rome, Georgia.
The path traversed the . . . — — Map (db m179053) HM
A scientist of national fame, Peters (1810-1888) lived for many years in Moulton with his wife Naomi (Leetch), a relative of President James K. Polk, who possibly visited here. A man of many talents, Peters was a noted linguist, early civil rights . . . — — Map (db m69670) HM
Tribute to our
Vietnam Veterans
Obedient to duty's call
Many to return injured
9 never to return
Herman Lee Cooper
Willie Frank Garner
Benjamin Harris
Artie Terry
Jeffery W. Smith
Ray Anthony Rhodes
Harold Laverol . . . — — Map (db m69673) WM
Built between 1818 and 1820 with slave labor by William Leetch,
the house was constructed of hand-hewed logs and covered with
wood siding soon after. William's wife, Naomi Knox Leetch, was
visited here by her nephew, future President James Knox . . . — — Map (db m201348) HM
Moulton Church of Christ is one of the oldest congregations of the Churches of Christ in Alabama. It was born of the Restoration Movement which sought to restore the Christian Church to its biblical roots. The movement began in both Europe and . . . — — Map (db m201353) HM
Near this site in the 1920's a school was constructed with funds and labor from the African~American Community along with funds from the Public, Whites and the Rosenwald Foundation. In the 1950's new buildings replaced the wooden structures. Most of . . . — — Map (db m195203) HM
First known as the Peerson Cemetery, it later became the McKelvey Cemetery and still carries that name. Buried here are some early Moulton pioneers and merchants, Veterans of the War of 1812 and Civil War, each contributed to Moulton's early . . . — — Map (db m84312) HM
In the early 1800s, settlers of Scots-Irish and Indian ancestry
begin moving into this area. These mountain people homesteaded
small tracts of property on public domain lands of poor sandy
soil and rugged terrain. According to tradition, the old . . . — — Map (db m153225) HM
On this site in 1871 former slaves constructed one of the first churches and schools for African Americans in Moulton. The Colored Methodist purchased most of the materials used for the building. Mr. and Mrs Isaac Nabors Owen gave land for the . . . — — Map (db m195205) HM
The Hot Spot
c. 1945
has been listed in the
Alabama Register of
Landmarks and Heritage
by the Alabama
Historical Commission
June 27, 2019 — — Map (db m195208) HM
This area was the home to Indians, settlers, people of mixed ancestry and their descendants. Local bluff shelters contain evidence of occupation from Paleo Indian (10,000 BC) through the Mississippian Period (1540 AD). Chief Tuscaloosa (Black . . . — — Map (db m84313) HM
Ca. 1875-1947. Faith healer. Fortune teller and finder of lost things. His yard filled every Sunday with seekers from near and far. Buried here. — — Map (db m239806) HM
The Oakville Indian Mounds Museum is based on a seven sided Cherokee council house. This type of council house was used during the cooler months and an open sided rectangular pavilion during warmer weather. The descriptions used for the museum's . . . — — Map (db m84314) HM
In the early 1800's Cherokees of this area were under the leadership of Doublehead and Tahlonteskee. After Doublehead's assassination in 1807, Tahlonteskee notified President Jefferson that he and his people were ready to move west. In 1808 . . . — — Map (db m36030) HM
Copena Indians built this mound with baskets of dirt some 2000 years ago. The Copena name was derived from their use of copper and galena (lead ore) found in their burials along with gorgets and celts. The mounds were a burial site with the dead . . . — — Map (db m84315) HM
Black Warriors' Path played a critical role as a route for Creek Removal. On December 19, 1835, some 511 Creek emigrants passed along the path through present ~ day Oakville Indian Mounds Park. In September 1836, a group of Creeks left Tallassee in . . . — — Map (db m36027) HM
Doublehead, (c1744-1807), aka Dsugweladegi or Chuqualatague, was the son of Great Eagle (Willenawah) and grandson of Moytoy. Among his siblings were Pumpkin Boy, Old Tassel and the unnamed grandmother of Sequoyah. After his sister's son John Watts . . . — — Map (db m84316) HM
Five Historic Indian tribes lived in this area. By 1701, The Yuchi were living at the shoals on the Tennessee River. In early 1700s the Yuchi left, some moving to the Cherokee Nation on the Hiwassee River, TN and others to Chattahoochee River, GA. . . . — — Map (db m36040) HM
Born near this site 12 September 1913 to Henry Cleveland and Emma (Fitzgerald) Owens, who were sharecroppers and the offspring of freed slaves, Jesse was destined to attain immortality in the 1936 Olympic Games at Berlin, Germany. Although he moved . . . — — Map (db m80969) HM
Jesse Owens track career started in high school when one day in gym class, the students were timed in the 60-yard dash. Coach Charlie Riley saw the raw, yet natural talent that young Jesse had and immediately invited him to run for the track team. . . . — — Map (db m80943) HM
He inspired a world enslaved in tyranny
and brought hope to his fellow man...
from the cottonfields of Oakville to the
acclaim of the entire world. He made us
all proud to be called Lawrence Countians.
Dedicated October, 1983 . . . — — Map (db m180484) HM
Rising 27 feet high, this is the largest woodland mound in Alabama, with a base covering 1.8 acres and a flat top of over one acre. Built by prehistoric Copena Indians, the mound is 2,000 years old and constructed from earth probably carried one . . . — — Map (db m84317) HM
On 26 Apr 1863, a Union raiding party of 1500 including the 51st and 73rd IN, 3rd OH, 18th IL, and local men from two companies of the 1st AL Calvary left Tuscumbia for Russellville. Led by Col. Abel Streight, their objective was to cut Confederate . . . — — Map (db m84318) HM
Based on the large number of local mounds and artifacts, this site shows evidence of Indian occupation over 2000 years ago. According to tradition about 1780, Oakville became a Cherokee town located on Black Warriors' Path. By the early 1820's, . . . — — Map (db m36036) HM
In January 1933, just before TVA was formed, the US Army corps of Engineers began working on Wheeler Lock and Dam to improve navigation on the treacherous upper Muscle Shoals and Elk river Shoals.
When TVA was created that May, it took over . . . — — Map (db m229351) HM
Many people may not relize that NASA’s first voyage to the moon was intended to travel through the lock at TVA's Wheeler Dam. NASA planned to ship its Saturn rocket booster (which would eventually carry astrounts to the moon for the Apollo program . . . — — Map (db m229349) HM
Built on this site in 1921, the store was a vital enterprise and local gathering place for African American residents of Town Creek and the surrounding rural communities. The Rev. O. C. Stanley owned and operated the business for more than six . . . — — Map (db m192089) HM
This mansion, located about one mile east, was placed on the National Register of Historic places 1 Oct 1974. Built by Turner Saunders (1782-1853) on property purchased 9 April 1833, the house may have an earlier construction date.
Revolutionary . . . — — Map (db m37281) HM
The Tennessee River has its headwaters in the mountains of Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia. The main stream forms at Knoxville, where the Houston and the French Broad Rivers join. The valley, 41,000 square miles in area, receives . . . — — Map (db m47486) HM
Form the late 1700's to 1807 a Cherokee Chief named Doublehead guarded this area, that was claimed by both the Cherokee and Chickasaw Nations as sacred hunting grounds against encroachment of white settlers.
Chief Doublehead had the reputation . . . — — Map (db m84646) HM
(side 1)
This small dwelling is the last reminder of "Boxwood" plantation, the home of the Elliot family, and later of the Nevilles. Built-in 1854 of slave-made brick and occupied by the household servants it is one of the few brick . . . — — Map (db m114719) HM